Chapter 20
Oriana
“ R emind me to never drink again,” I groaned as I collapsed at the kitchen table. Roman chuckled as he dropped a blanket around my shoulders and disappeared, coming back a few minutes later with a coffee.
“Think you can handle breakfast?” he asked. His voice was pitched low, which I appreciated.
Especially when Lane walked in with all his usual exuberance.
“Good morning, Princess, how are you holding up?” he asked, laughing at my groan.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Nope,” he laughed, completely unrepentant. “Don’t worry, Hudson has a hangover cure. He ran to the store for breakfast and that. It tastes awful, but just do what he says.”
“No,” I muttered, though I doubted I could resist him if I wanted to. The betas chuckled before they were moving around the house and leaving me to my misery. I sat up long enough to sip my coffee but it wasn’t fixing the hangover.
Stumbling to the kitchen I poured the coffee in a travel mug and went for my shoes. After struggling to slide them on, I walked out of the backdoor and took a deep breath.
Rockwood Valley always smelled fantastic. A mix of crisp mountain air and sweetgrass. It was home and I’d missed it far too much to ever leave again.
When I started walking again, I heard the others muttering but didn’t have the energy to answer.
“Where is she going?” Lane asked, barely containing his laughter.
“Should we follow?” Roman countered. He sounded worried and I tried to send reassurance through the bond but it was still so shaky without an alpha tying us together.
My head throbbed and my eyes were a little hazy as I pushed ahead, following the familiar path leading to the treeline.
Once I stepped past the trees and into the thick of the forest, I felt my entire body relax. Outside noise was dampened and tendrils of warm, morning light spilled through the canopy. The moss and leaf lined path hadn’t been used in a long time but I knew it by heart anyway.
I could clean it up later.
It had been a long time since I’d walked through here and I was happy to note my asthma had improved outside the city. I was no longer taking puffs of my inhaler during every excursion. In fact, outside of my daily medication, I hadn’t needed it much since being back.
Something I hoped would continue.
Eventually, I made it to the stream. The old rock I used to perch on seemed so much smaller these days, but then again I was a teenager the last time I was here.
I settled onto it anyway, the cold stone harsh against my skin but I let it seep in. My eyes drifted closed and the sun hit this spot perfectly, quickly warming me and the rock the longer I sat.
As the minutes passed, the headache started to ebb away. I sipped my coffee and simply absorbed the feeling of home.
This had always been my spot and I was happy to reclaim it.
And the best part was that this was never mine and Cameron’s, just mine. It was something he couldn’t take from me.
Cameron. I frowned at the thought of him. I’d spent so many years clinging to my hurt and frustration, but now that I was home and he was trying to prove he had grown up and changed, it was hard to stay angry.
My fingers drifted over the old mate mark on my wrist. It was long healed and no longer sensitive, but that was because our bond had shriveled up completely.
Would it even be possible to get it back?
Movement behind me had me turning, expecting Roman to be next to me, but it was my dad.
“I stopped by to check on you,” Adam explained. “They said you disappeared into the woods. Roman followed you but said you looked like you were peaceful so he is hanging back at the treeline giving you space. I don’t have the same reservations.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. My dads were a lot of things, and overbearing was definitely on that list.
He walked over and dropped down right on the moss and leaves, looking out at the water.
“You did always love this spot,” he mused.
“It’s peaceful out here, like the rest of the world can’t reach you,” I said as I glanced around. For me, these woods had always held a certain kind of magic.
“I hear that you and Cameron met up last night,” he started, his voice careful.
“We did, though my pack was there.”
He nodded slowly, finally turning to face me. His expression was guarded and I braced myself for whatever words of wisdom he wanted to impart.
“Just say it,” I sighed. It wasn’t going to be worse than I’d said to myself.
“You sure you want to try with him? Last time he had your heart, he shattered it and we lost you for thirteen years, Oriana.”
The pain in his voice was palpable. My chest ached sharply as I let his words settle in.
“We are bonded mates… or were. Part of me needs to know if he’ll ever be what I need. And if not, I have to let him go finally.”
“That’s fair. Just remember you have other mates as well,” he said. “Don’t push them away to focus on the one who hurt you.”
“I’m not,” I said, voice sharp and indignant. I’d give everything to Roman… and if Lane and Hudson weren’t going to be leaving in three weeks, I’d do the same for them.
My stomach churned at the thought of them leaving. It had been only a few days and they’d already settled so easily into my life. They fit here at the house and with me and Roman. Our friendship was easy and they were both attractive.
But I couldn’t let myself get too close. I wasn’t even sure why I was lying to my dads about it. I could have told them why the guys were here.
Yet, I didn’t want to.
It seemed too pathetic when I said it out loud and I liked them a bit too much to truly deny.
He looked far too pleased with my instant frustration at his words. He held his hands up.
“Okay, just checking, Little Bird. We’re here for you regardless,” he promised.
I softened at his words and offered a smile. “Thank you. You always have been. Cameron seems like he’s changed, but I’m not going to dive in. He has to prove it to me first.”
“Good, make his ass grovel,” he agreed, fire sparking in his ocean eyes.
“Just promise me that you’ll trust my judgement. That if I do forgive him one day, that you do, too? I know he hurt me, but I can’t bring my pack around if there’s always tension.”
Adam rolled his eyes playfully. “I mean, the only reason he’s still alive is for you. He hasn’t dated anyone since you left and if he truly puts in the work to show you he’s worthy, we’ll deal with it.”
“Thank you,” I said as I drained the last of the coffee. I was starving now and I forced myself to stand up and stretch. “Are you staying for breakfast?”
“Nah, enjoy your pack. Brandon said to expect a text. He’s been working on something and won’t let any of us know what it is. I think it’s for you, though,” he admitted, a huff of annoyance in his voice, though the smile never left his face. My dads loved their omega and indulged him when these crazy ideas hit.
Though, if it involved me, I was, in fact, a bit worried.
“I’ll prepare myself,” I joked. “Hopefully it’s nothing crazy.”
“With him, who fucking knows?” Adam asked, standing up and brushing the dirt and leaves from his jeans. “Come on, Little Bird. Your pack was anxious when I got here and it’s been a solid thirty minutes.”
We walked quietly through the path for a few moments but Adam was never one for quiet.
“I like your pack,” he said, stopping and pulling me to a halt. “I’m really proud of you for giving them a chance. They’re all in love with you, it’s easy to see. That’s all we ever wanted for you, Little Bird.”
I fought back the guilt and barely managed to stop myself from saying we weren’t pack. In fact, as his words sunk in, hope formed.
They looked at me like that? If they could tell, did that mean this crush of mine wasn’t just one-sided?
All three of the guys were outside when we stepped back into the yard. They’d set up the picnic table with a breakfast spread.
Hudson stepped forward, the question in his eyes. I simply smiled and let him pull me into his arms. His lips brushed over my forehead.
“I’m fine,” I promised before my eyes fell to the glass in his hand. “What the hell is that smell?
He chuckled and held it out.
“Hangover cure. Drink up, Love.”
Adam chuckled and walked past us. “Good luck with that. See you guys later.”
Hudson took that moment to press the straw to my lips. My nose wrinkled but I took a sip, eyebrows raising in surprise that it didn’t taste like bog water… because that’s certainly what it looks like.
“Wait, you made hers better?!” Lane accused. “She’s not gagging or anything!”
Hudson chuckled as I took the cup and drank a bit more. “She’s cuter than you, I made hers with fruit and honey as well.”
“Rude,” Lane huffed. He looked like he might lean in and snag a taste but I finished it before he could. Oddly, I did feel better. Maybe it was just being around them, or the talk with Adam, or the trip into the woods, but I felt human again.
Footsteps had us looking up to see Adam walking back our way. “Hey, this was on your porch. Seems the groveling has started.”
He dropped the wrapped present on the table and gave me a wink before leaving again.
The wrapping was gorgeous and the ribbon tied down another envelope. I froze for a moment, unsure if I wanted to see the present or get through the rough read.
Settling on the emotional part first, I sat down at the patio table and took the envelope. The guys were quiet as they took their chairs. Roman made me a plate and slipped it closer, giving me space to read through.
The letter was short and dated for the first Thanksgiving after I left. A lot of it was updates on his family, how they were coping with the loss. He talked about how angry Avery was at him for what he did.
But the part that had my chest tightening I read through three times.
No matter how bad I fucked up, I know one day I’ll find my way to you again, Ori. You’re my world and I was an idiot, letting my emotions win. Never again.
So, this year, I’m thankful that I got to experience life with you up until now, that I was able to bond my omega. Even if it takes years to get you back, I know I found my mate and there will never be anyone else for me.
When that day comes, know that I’ll never let go again. One day we’ll spend our nights with our pack, have family dinners at least once or twice a week, and spend our weekends hunting for those antiques you love.
I love you, Ori. Always have and always will.
With a small smile, I tucked the letter back inside the envelope.
“Take a bite, then open it,” Roman suggested, gently scooting my plate closer. They were all watching me.
“Don’t worry, no tears this time,” I said.
Lane smiled. “Good. You don’t have to share what’s inside, though.”
His reassurance was sweet, but I wanted to tell them. They were part of this, at least for now. Not to mention, who else could I talk to about this that would understand?
So, I talked about the Whitaker’s Thanksgiving and how they were coping after the loss. I hated how much pain they were all in and I tried to keep that in mind when thinking about how badly Cameron hurt me.
He was wrong. We both knew it. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have his reasons, albeit they were misguided.
Picking up my bacon I nibbled at it as I thought about what I wanted to do next. I’d left a booming real estate career behind, but I had no real desire to go that route again. Rockwood Valley was a small market as it was.
When I polished off my bacon and waffle, I finally pulled the present closer. The guys watched as I tore off the paper and opened the box, gasping as I pulled out a beautiful bronze statuette.
“Does this mean something to you, Princess?” Lane asked.
“Yes, it does,” I said, voice reverent as I studied the antique. It was gorgeous. I’d found it during one of our trips to flea markets around the area. I loved it but it was too expensive for a teenager. Neither of us could afford it.
A note was at the bottom of the box, Cameron’s choppy handwriting filling the small slip of paper.
Took me a few years, but I tracked her down finally. This was always meant to be in your collection.
He hunted it down for me. We had gone back two weeks later and it was gone. I was so sad and just knew I’d never see it again.
Yet somehow Cameron tracked this piece down for me. She was now mine. Suddenly, my dream of opening an antique store seemed real again.
“It means he’s putting in the work.”